Exaggerating risk from bovine TB

AGRICULTURE Minister Simon Coveney was correct to defend the ban re the sale of unpasteurised milk in Ireland in the public interest.

However, the public statement from the minister (Farming, August 11) is factually incorrect when it states that the primary reason for the ban in Ireland is due to greater danger posed by bovine tuberculosis in Ireland compared to other EU states, where the disease has been “eradicated”.

It is disquieting that the minister, even in the first six months of office, would have made this comment in his press release. The Irish bovine TB scheme has reduced the prevalence of TB in cattle from 25% in the 1950s to less than 0.35% today, even though the numbers of cattle have doubled during that period. While bovine TB will always be a potential threat to human health, the surveillance system means that bovine TB is a minuscule percentage of the number of human cases of tuberculosis detected.

Contrary to the statement, all EU states continue to have to monitor for TB in cattle (and goats). From time to time some find increases in incidence, most recently observed in England, Wales, France and Germany. Thus, the DAFF/ministerial statement downgrades Irish animal health status and so marketability of produce. It also causes disaffection amongst farmers, who may be misled into believing that their efforts (money and time) to control bovine TB have been, and continue to be, wasted.

Worldwide, the ban on general sale of unpasteurised milk is due to the inevitable presence of human pathogens in a percentage of milk (over 60% of human disease agents are shared with animals). These are effectively removed by pasteurisation and include bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli, listeria and staph species, as well as bovine TB.

While there is an inevitable enthusiasm within the Department of Agriculture to defend its policy on the ban, it should not extend to exaggerating the risk posed by bovine TB in Irish milk relative to competing countries or countries to which Irish food is exported.

Frank O’Leary

Veterinary surgeon

Caherciveen

Co Kerry